The diagram above illustrates a ball of mass m sliding down a plank inclined at an angle of 0 to the horizontal. The kinetic friction between the ball and t...

Answer Details

The net force acting on the ball is the vector sum of all the forces acting on it along the plank. The forces acting on the ball are the gravitational force and the kinetic frictional force. The gravitational force acting on the ball can be resolved into two components, one perpendicular to the plank and the other parallel to the plank. The component perpendicular to the plank is balanced by the normal force of the plank on the ball. The component parallel to the plank is responsible for the acceleration of the ball down the plank and is given by mg sin θ, where θ is the angle of inclination of the plank. The kinetic frictional force acts in the opposite direction to the motion of the ball and is given by F. Therefore, the net force acting on the ball along the plank is the vector sum of the gravitational force and the kinetic frictional force: Net force = mg sin θ - F Therefore, the correct answer is option (C): mgsin θ - F.